They all hit the markets together here and the long sequence of availability is as much to do with the spread of farms through different climates.Below is the old advice regarding varieties for commercial production, African Pride is getting less popular now due to blackening and being of lower quality.Atemoyas are called custard apples and A.reticulata is called bullocks heart or bullocks heart custard apple.
What varieties of custard apple should I plant?
KJ Pinks, Hillary White, Pinks Mammoth and African Pride are suitable for all of the custard apple growing areas in the Atherton Tablelands, Central Queensland, the Bundaberg district, the Sunshine Coast and the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Maroochy Gold performs better in the more tropical climate of the Atherton Tableland than in sub tropical areas. Custard apple growing is difficult in coastal regions of northern Queensland where the hot, wet and humid climate can cause severe disease problems.
KJ Pinks is protected by Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and can only be purchased from Australian Nurserymen's Fruit Improvement Company (ANFIC) licensed nurseries. The registered owner of this variety is Keith Paxton. A major breeding program currently underway at the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation's (DEEDI) Maroochy Research Station is expected to lead to the release of other new varieties in future. The varieties you plant will depend mainly on where your orchard is located.
African Pride has the advantage of producing a good crop without hand pollination; however, some North Queensland growers prefer to hand pollinate to ensure fruit for the higher priced early market. Unfortunately, African Pride is more prone to skin blackening and other fruit quality problems.
Hillary White and Pinks Mammoth have highly consistent fruit quality, but require hand pollination to set good crops of quality fruit. KJ Pinks, which originated as a budsport (a mutated shoot) from a Pinks Mammoth tree, has the major advantage of not needing hand pollination. Maroochy Gold benefits from hand pollination. KJ Pinks, Pinks Mammoth and Hillary White appear to be preferred in Asian export markets. We suggest prospective growers seek current advice from custard apple marketers before making a final decision.